Portable cork-screw

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a portable cork-screw provided with a conventional spiral-shaped extraction means which is articulated to the body in a position offset towards one of its extremities, said body having a C-shaped cross-section, and having in one of its walls a circular recess with two cutting protuberances in spaced longitudinal positions, said protuberances being usable as a crown cork lifter, and presenting at said extremity which is closer to the spiral a pair of arms which are hinged to a same pin and having substantially different lengths; the two arms are provided at their respective extremities with stepped portions so that they can bear against the upper edge of the neck of the bottle; the longer arm has a wide opening traversed by the shorter arm.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to an improved portable cork-screw,contributing basically novel features and important advantages withrespect to similar devices known and used for the same purpose in thepresent state of the art.

More specifically, the invention proposes the development of a devicethat may be used as a cork-screw, with a sufficiently reduced size to beable to be carried by the user, making it possible to perform,comfortably and simply, the removal of a bottle cork with a minimumeffort and applicable to any type of stopper, independently from itscharacteristics or size by a single operation, or in two stagesdepending on the length of the cork in question. Moreover, the design ofthe cork-screw has been conceived in such a way that it also provides,in the same body, means to cut the capsules that may cover the corkitself.

The field of application of the invention is in the industry dedicatedto the manufacture of household items, gifts, promotion and similaritems, as well as for industrial and domestic use.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Several devices that may be used as cork-screws are known in the stateof the art, with structural designs and

Several devices that may be used as cork-screws are known in the stateof the art, with structural designs and widely varied shapes. Generally,all these devices are provided with a suitable spiral component to be“screwed” in the bottle cork to be removed and at least, a handlecomponent by which the user applies the pulling effort during the corkremoval operation.

In the case of portable cork-screws, that is, those that may be easilycarried by the user in a pocket, it is logical that the size is reducedto a maximum, trying to maintain, as far as possible, the advantages ofcomfort and easy use as others of a greater size. On many occasions thissituation leads to the adoption of complicated solutions givingstructurally complex devices with a difficult design.

Therefore, a practical necessity exists of making a portable cork-screwwhich with a simple design may be quickly, comfortably and simplyapplied to all types of corks independently from their features andsizes.

The solution to the above problem has been solved by the cork-screw ofthe present invention, by which it is possible to uncork in a reallyeffective way, in any type of situation, and with corks whose sizes maybe very short, short, medium, long and very long, for which thecork-screw has been provided with two support arms on the upper edge ofthe bottle rim, both arms having different sizes, namely, a reduced oneand the other with normal length, the first of these arms beingincorporated in the second arm and both fastened to the cork-screw bodyby means of a single, union point and both crossed by a same pin whichpivots them to the body, such that when the cork is penetrated with thecork screw spiral, totally independent support points may be availablewithin the same assembly, without being separated parts and withouthaving also separated supports or fastenings, both arms being found inthe same space and permitting that the spiral penetrates in the corkuntil a desired position, adjusting this penetration to the length ofthe cork and without completely passing through it if not desired.

As a result of the arrangement of the short arm, housed or incorporatedin the longer one, the size of the cork-screw is effectively reduced byseveral centimetres with respect to similar ones in the current state ofthe art, such that an object results which may be easily carried in theuser's pocket.

As will be understood, depending on the length of the cork, either theshorter or longer arm may be used. Activation of the cork-screw body inits approach movement to the bottle to lean on the selected arm, makesthe other arm, as relevant, to automatically separate from the bottle,leaving the space free for the easy handling of the assembly. Thischaracteristic will be explain with greater detail below.

On the other hand, the invention foresees that the cork-screw bodyincorporates, as has been said, decapsulating means, which preferablyconsist of small curved, chamfered portions integrated with the body,made in an arched recess, provided in a part of said body. Thearrangement of this portions, together with the own shape and sizing ofthe mentioned recess, make the decapsulating operation, clean,comfortable, fast and effective.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the invention may be moreclearly understood by the following detailed description of a preferredembodiment thereof, given only as an illustrative and non-limitingexample, referring to the attached drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a cork-screw constructed according tothe present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a side elevated view of the cork-screw applied to a bottle,with the spiral introduced in the cork carried by the latter, and

FIGS. 3 to 6 correspond to successive views in the side elevation ofsequential operations related to the removal of a long cork of apredetermined size, with the use of the cork-screw of the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

According to that expressed above, the detailed description of thepreferred embodiment of the invention will be carried out with the useof the figures of the attached drawings by which, the same numericalreferences have been used to mark equal or similar parts. Therefore,firstly referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the representation may beseen in perspective of a cork-screw constructed according to theinvention in which a body (1) is seen, consisting of a rigid,longitudinal component, preferably metallic, as a “C” shaped profile, towhose opposite side walls, a conventional spiral shaped extraction means(2) has been articulated, by means of a pin (3) near to one of the ends,destined to be nailed in the cork by means of a rotational movementidentical to that made with any other known cork-screw. In this samementioned end, two arms (4,5) are articulated by means of a same pin (6)and therefore, in a single position, of which, one arm (4) hasconsiderably less length than the other arm (5), both mentioned armshaving stepped ends for their easier coupling to the upper edge of thebottle rim carrying the cork to be removed, and of which one of thearms, particularly the shorter one (4), has a slightly less width and isincorporated or housed in the inner space of the other arm (5), thelatter having a wide opening through which the shorter one may pass.Moreover, the body 1) has been provided with means to easily decapsulatethe bottle, said means consisting of two small slightly protrudingportions (7), made over the profile of an arched recess made in one ofthe side walls of the body. The portion (8), correspondingly in front ofthe opposite wall, is kept intact, such that in the decapsulatingoperation, it serves as a stop for the upper edge of the bottle, suchthat it is the own body width (1) which defines the distance to whichthe cut should be made over the bottle capsule.

The design given to the cork-screw assembly being described, allows aconsiderable reduction of size (several centimetres with respect to asimilar corkscrew), due to the articulation of both arms at the samepoint and the possibility of housing in the closed position of thecork-screw of the shorter one (4) inside the longer one (5), besidespermitting than the body (1) may have an ergonomic shape allowing aperfect grip by the user for easier handling.

Referring to FIG. 2, the representation of an elevated view of thecork-screw of the invention is seen, applied to a bottle whose neck (9)has the cork (10) to be removed. In this Figure, the spiral (2)introduced in the cork (10) is seen. Moreover, said cork has beenrepresented with a dotted line and a considerable length has beenselected to be able to more easily understand the different operationsinvolved in a complete removal sequence, the latter being represented inFIGS. 3 to 6.

In fact, once the spiral is introduced as shown in FIG. 2, the followingstage to remove a cork (10) consists in supporting the shorter arm (4),taking advantage of the stepping of its free end, over the bottle neck(9) rim, when the position of the cork-screw will be that shown in FIG.3. By suitably holding the bottle with one hand, and applying an upwardspulling effort with the other hand, taking advantage of the lever effectprovided by such a support, the cork is removed until a position similarto that shown in FIG. 4. It will be understood that if said cork (10) isshort or very short, this movement will be sufficient to completelyremove it, the removal operation finishing here, with the sole use ofthe shorter arm (4).

However, when a longer cork (10) is used and this first operation is notsufficient to remove it, the second support, of a greater height isused, provided by the longer arm (5). For this reason, once the firstremoval operation has finished, and with the assembly in the positionshown in said FIG. 4, it will be enough to make the body (1) descend,such that the shorter arm, dragged by the body itself, is automaticallyseparated from the bottle neck and in its place, the longer arm (5) maybe applied, taking advantage of the stepping of its free end, as shownin FIG. 5 of the drawings. In this situation, it is sufficient to applyan adequate upwards pull over the body (1) to pass to the position ofFIG. 6 and therefore, total removal of the cork.

From the above, it is clearly seen that the cork-screw design of theinvention permits a comfortable and simple use thereof, independentlyfrom the type of cork in question. Moreover, the provision of a singlearticulation pin (6) for both arms (4, 5) with the body (1) permits thearrangement of relative dragging means, such that when any coupling orbody (1) moving operation is performed, the arm not being usedsimultaneously moves with the body, being separated from the applicationspace, and hence not representing any hindrance to handle the assembly.Finally, it will also be understood that the incorporated armarrangement permits that, in the closed cork-screw position, both armsremain adapted to the body (1), with the spiral (2) inside the latter,hence occupying a minimum space making it especially recommended to betransported by the user in a pocket or any other place.

It is not considered necessary to extend this description for a skilledperson to understand its scope and the advantages derived from theinvention, as well as to develop and implement the purpose thereof.

Nevertheless, it should be understood that the invention has beendescribed according to a preferred embodiment thereof, such that it maybe modified without this representing any change of the basis of saidinvention, said modifications especially including the shape, the sizeand/or manufacturing materials.

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable cork-screw for removing of corks,comprising a body; a spiral component articulately connected with saidbody and nailable by a manual rotation of movement into a cork to beremoved; first means for articulatingly connected said spiral componentto said body; two arms articulately connected to said body near saidmeans for articulatingly connecting said spiral component with saidbody; second means for articulately connecting said two arms with saidbody, said two arms having free ends with stepped edges for supportingover an upper edge of a bottle rim carrying the cork to be removed, saidarms including a longer arm having an opening and a shorter arm locatedinside and movable through said opening, said body being C-shaped andhaving two walls with one of said walls provided with a recess with twoprotuberances which form means for decapsulating the bottle.
 2. Aportable cork-screw as defined in claim 1, wherein said first means forarticulatingly connecting said spiral component with said body consistsof a single pin.
 3. A portable cork-screw as defined in claim 1, whereinsaid recess in said C-shaped body is substantially arched.
 4. A portablecord-screw as defined in claim 1, wherein said protuberances have acurved chaufered edge.
 5. A portable cord-screw as defined in claim 1,wherein said shorter arm is formed so that when it is supported on anedge of a bottle rim it provides a sufficient operative distance forremoval of substantially shorter corks, while said longer arm is formedso as to provide a sufficient operative distance for removal of largercorks.
 6. A portable cord-screw as defined in claim 1, wherein said bodyhas dragging means operative for automatically separating one of saidarms which is not being used during a cork removal operation.